Mouth-cleaning device



J. L. KELLY. mourn CLEANING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25,1920.

1,371,790 Patefited Mar. 15; 1921.,

I1 TTOR/VEYS PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN LAWRENCE KELLY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MOUTH-CLEANING DEVICE.

Application filed June 25, 1920. Serial No. 391,576.

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN L. KELLY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Mouth-Cleaning Device, ofwhich thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact de- I scri tion.

is invention relates to improvements in mouth cleaning devices, an object of the invention being to provide a, device of the character stated which functions as a cleaning device for the teeth, gums, tongue, and other portions of the mouth and also functions as a massage device which permits a thorough massagin of the gums and is particularly adapted or use in the treatment of cases of pyorrhea.

A further object is to rovide a device of the character stated, which provides at one end a clamp to secure a pair of rolls referably of cotton, although, of course, may employ any other suitable material, the rolls being secured transversely of the clamp so that the two pairs of ends are exposed and facilitate the cleaning and massaging operation. 1

A further object is to provide a device of the character stated which is made at one end to form a ton e scraper.

With'these an other objects in view th invention consists in certain novel features Fig. 2 is a view in elevation at right angles to Fig. 1; v

Fig. 3 is an end view; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the handle;

- 'Fig. 5 is a view in elevation of one of therolls;

' Fig. 6 is a view in section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view in section on the line 77 of Fig.1. I

My improved device comprises a handle 1 which is composed of a single strip of metal bent or curved at its intermediate'portion forming a semi-circular tongue scraper 2.

The two members 1', 1', of the metal form- 'ment of the ring Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mar. 15, 1921.,

ing the handle taper toward each other from the tongue scraper 2 until they come to gether where they are secured by a fixed ring 3, and from this fixed ring 3 the two members form spring arms 4:, 4, which are bent inwardly at their free ends, as shown at 5, constituting a pair of gripping jaws, 6, 6.

The arms 4, 4, at a suitable point or points adjacent their free ends are made with outwardly bent portions 7 and a sliding ring '8 is mounted on the arms and is adapted when moved toward the jaws 6, 6, to ride onto or over the outwardly bent portions 7 and force the gripping jaws together and at the same time prevent accidental retrograde move- The strip of metal forming the handle portion of my improved device is of general semi-cylindrical shape in cross-section so that its inner edge is comparatively straight as shown at 9, and its outer edge is curved as shown at 10, forming at the juncture of the straight and curved surfaces scraping edges 11 which may be slightly rounded to prevent injury to the tongue and yet have sufficient scraping action to thoroughly clean the same.

In connection with my improved handle or holding device I utilize a pair of rolls 12,

12, which are preferably of absorbent cotton. These rolls are placed between the jaws 6, 6, and the ring 8 is moved toward the jaws to clamp the intermediate portions of the rolls so that the ends of the rolls are forced laterally or outwardly giving the general shape shown in Fig. 8, which gives an extended surface to the cleaning device and presents the ends of the rolls for cleaning and massagm As above statef while I believe absorbent cotton to be the preferred material, it ispost sible that other material might be employed, and I do not wish to be limited in this particular.

In connection with the cleaning device, any suitable paste, liquid, or powder may be used and the teeth and gums thorou hly cleaned and the'latter massaged, and, in act, all portions of the mouth can be thoroughly cleaned and massaged by the employment of my improved device. After the cleaning and massaging operation is over, the rolls are discarded and a new set of rolls used at each operation. V

Various sl'ght changes might be made in the general form and arrangement of parts described without departing from the invention, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise details set forth, but consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device of the character stated, comprising a holder, and a roll of absorbent material positioned transversely of the holder, secured by the holder and having its ends exposed for cleaning and massaging.

2. A device of the character stated, comprising a: holder, and a pair of rolls of absorbent material secured to one end of the holder and having their ends exposed for the cleaning and massaging operation.

3. A device of the character stated, comprising a holder, a pair of gripping jaws at one end of the holder, and a pair of rolls located between the jaws and at their intermediate portions clamped by said jaws, whereby the ends of the rolls are exposed for cleaning and massaging.

4:. A device of the character stated, comprising a handle consisting of a single strip of metal bent intermediate its ends forming a curved tongue scraper, said strip of metal being of general semi-cylindrical shape in cross sectlon, a fixed ring holding the members together and forming the tongue scraper, the free ends of said members bent forming clamping jaws and having outwardly bent portlons adjacent the jaws, a sliding ring on the members adapted to move over the outwardly bent portions and clamp the jaws together, and a pair of rolls of ab sorbent material located between the jaws and clamped thereby.

JOHN LAWRENCE KELLY. 

